“On The Edge”

“Many moons have come and gone, a few bits of equipment have changed and the never ending trek for learning continues.”

That’s my lastest quote by yours truely.  If it means anything to you, feel free to use it.

Have you ever felt that you are so close, that you could taste it?  Have you ever felt though that being “that close” gives you the sense that you can, still do, want and crave more?  That’s how I feel and have felt for many months.  This never ending thirst to learn and to expand, to tweek and to find my own way down the photography career path, as been nothing short of amazing.  I have met and photographed some amazing people, animals, storms and landscapes, to only want to go back and do it all over again.  Do it again but with a different purpose in mind.  It’s called growing and growing puts me closer to “the edge”.

I realize it’s been awhile since you have heard from me but let me explain to you, who I am and why it’s been quiet.  I am a creative form of perfectionist.  Please don’t ask me the definition of what that means, as I couldn’t tell you.  I can only show you by pointing out the last date of my blog was WAY TO LONG ago and the reason behind it.

The perfectionist in me wouldn’t allow my fingers to touch this keyboard until THEY felt whatever I was about to type next was worthy of typing.  I believe it’s true that when we chose to develop, that we grow in spurts, we plateau, we grow again, just to find out that around every bend, there is much more to learn.  I’m about to call this my 12 step program and accept the fact that with every step conquered, I’m just that much closer to…”the edge”.  Not to say when I come to “the edge” will I jump off, no, it’s a matter of “being there”.  Being there where all this learning, tweeking, developing and gaining an understanding will help give me, “the edge”.  Some of you may find this overly confident to say, where others will simply get it.   Possessing “the edge” sets us apart from the norm and that my friends is simply why I’ve been silent for so long.

I’m going to sign off for now but please do come back and check in often.  My Galleries are starting to become more and more defined with my style and how I want my photography viewed.  And if by chance you see something you like, leave me a comment on how it makes you feel.  I would love to hear your feelings too.   (You may also find me on FB at Caryn Hill Photography)

Until then….Keep Calm & Shoot On!

It seems this time of year gets everyone thinking back over their previous chase season and/or seasons.  Some reflect on the success they had, some reflect on the success they WISH they had, some fabricate “fish stories”, while others are content to see what they saw and continue to enjoy the chase, whatever the end result may be.

Over the years, I’ve learned I fall into all categories, even though I will admit I’m not much of a “fisherman”.  I guess you could call it the, “woulda, coulda, shoulda” mentality.  “I woulda gone if it had looked more worthy”.  “I coulda gone IF…..” and most importantly “I shoulda gone!!!”…this being after learning of Campo (a short 1-2 hour drive down the road and YES, I’m STILL kicking myself in the arse for not being there!) happened and I chose to stay home and ride that day.  With this describing my overall view of my previous chase seasons reflections, there is always 1 day that shoulda been my learning experience, that woulda made me realize that I coulda been out chasing ALL that’s worthy!

With that being said, the following video is now what I call, my “shoulda learned from it” video.   Colorado has offered up some of my best chase experiences but it has also offered me, my first SOLO chase and it was that day that deeply seeded the chase bug within me.

(click on the youtube link to view my 1st solo chase – don’t worry, it has been edited down to 6 minutes)

\”Caryn\’s 1st Solo Chase – If I had know then, what I know now\”

After viewing the video, I can tell you what I learned from that day.  I’ll start at the end, since you are probably still setting there thinking, “WHY didn’t she have her video battery charged?!”

Lesson #1.  What the video doesn’t show is a set of TWINS!!!  It was my 3rd set that I had witnessed that year but the first time having any sort of device that coulda recorded such an event.  All I could do was set there and witness another spectacular view that I shoulda been recording. In an all out desperation, I even tried taking photos of the twins, with one of those Kodak, throw away cameras!   The lesson I took away from this experience is simple actually…. “Hey Caryn?  Take a look in your console, there just might be a convertor and a camera cable in there….just waiting for a camera to charge up!”  LOL  If you can’t laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?   I get the giggles alot!

Lesson #2….keep your chase vehicle filled up and ready to roll.  If I had thought of this, I wouldn’t have missed out on several more minutes of footage.  But setting in that Limon gas station and warning those around me, wasn’t such a bad thing either.  Things happen for a reason perhaps?

Lesson #3….keep your storm chasing hubby, who is stuck in OKC between tours, off the phone when witnessing such an event.  It only leads to depression…even to this day, he still repeats….”coulda, shoulda, woulda and if only”.   Followed by a drop of his head that leads to violent shaking.  I know honey….I know.  It’s how I felt when I shoulda been in Campo!

Lesson #4…..the clicking of your video camera cap against the tripod is ANNOYING!  I coulda wrapped it around the leg or taken if off.

Lesson #5…..SOME species of the human race, will think this should be lesson #1.  I won’t mention which species. NEVER go shopping on a slight risk day in Colorado.  The pics that follow will show you why.  (I can’t repeat what someone’s hubby said when she teasingly sent the cell phone photos to him, sarcastically asking, “whatcha think Rog?”)  These images were taken as I walked out of the Aurora, City Center shopping mall.  Hey now!!! They were having a great sale on shoes!

I could go on about a few more lessons I learned from that day but then I would be giving away a sense of “I feel a bit better about myself and how I chase THESE days” feelings.  OMG! Can’t do that now can we????

So the moral of the story is this….”IF I had known then, what I know now, I probably woulda gotten a bit closer, I coulda been more ready with a charged battery and a filled diesel tank AND I shoulda been in Campo!!!

With that being said….never fear, spring is near!  And now I’m off to charge a few camera batteries. 

Chill!

I realize it’s been several months since I put up my first blog but there is a good reason for that.  It’s called, taking the time to do things right.  Another words, there is alot to absorb when you’ve decided to take the plunge into a new adventure.  And I’m not one to take the plunge, hop out of the pool and say, “there, I took a swim around and I’m satisfied”.

Nope.  There is alot more to it then that.

There is this sense that the ol’ saying, “it’s just the tip of the ice berg”, starts ringing loud in your ears and you come to realize, there are many roads you could take to become what you are hoping you become.  It’s the task of deciding which road to take, that will move you in the direction you hope is best for your career, is the hard part.  And as of today, I have yet to find any GPS unit or crystal ball, that gives ANY kind of career advice.

So when the calls come in for booking family portraits, equine photography, engagement shoots…..

Carly & Andy’s Engagement shoot – We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

and booking weddings, taking on trips to unknown parts of the world you’ve never been to before, you accept them as a way of the Photography Gods telling you, “take the plunge, swim around, heck even put on some floaties if you have too and see where treading the waters will take you”.  I’ve learned from experience to accept these signs and those voices ringing in my ear.

Then you book a Spring 2012 Fashion shoot.  WOW!!! is the only way to describe the feeling there!

I’ve also learned to take a chance and submit my work -

Which I feel is appropriately titled…..

"It's just the beginning....."

to places some only dream of getting their work into, as you just never know……that one day you get an email that infroms you that a macro print you had submitted to a Macro Juried Show, has been selected to hang in a Gallery, www.gallerynrc.com to be exact, for the month of January.  The feeling that it gives oneself, is the same feeling you get after drinking a pot of high test coffee, when you’re normally a 1 cup of decaf per day drinker. It’s a high that some probably haven’t felt since the 70s.

Yes, there has been alot to absorb over these last several months.  Am I feeling water logged yet?  NO.  But what I am feeling is a deep satisfaction that taking on this new adventure back into the photography world, was a fateful move that was kind enough to provide me with floaties.  Until I learn which pool I’ll be swimming in, I’m forever grateful for the Photography Gods for providing me this digital madness.

I hope whomever is reading this, will take the plunge with me and follow along as I develope this new career.  Who knows, maybe some day, you’ll be inspired as well and jump into the pool for a swim too!

Until then….just shoot!

From time to time, people have the pleasure of experiencing a thing called, “Opportunity”.  Some will answer the door when Opportunity comes a knocking, some won’t.  I have learned over the years, mostly by mistake, to never ignore that knock…on the door….of Opportunity.

It wasn’t so long ago, that I answered that door.  At the time, I wasn’t aware that when I opened said door, that a new future would be staring me in the face.  As it turns out, I’m the one doing all the staring, right down and through the view finder of my Canon 5 D Mark II and through the variety of L series lens that have managed to find their way home with me.   (Not to mention all those darn filters I feel I need!!!)  What has surprised me the most though, is how much I feel at home when I have a camera in my hand.  This may surprise some people, some it may not considering the storm chasing business we are in and just how “creative” my mind can get.  It’s those creative moments that I now have an outlet for and it mostly involves my photography and letting the eye wonder.

Fact of the matter is, photography is here to stay as a part of my life and I have all those photographic “Opportunties” to thank for that.  Along with a hand full of supporters that have been encouraging me and supporting me with photographic, marketing and business advice, I’ll take this very moment to thank you all.  You all know who you are. 

Lastly, I would like to thank my husband Roger Hill, as if it weren’t for him handing me his “old” Canon 5D to play around with, I may not have had the Opportunity to shoot lightning, amazing storm structure, desert scenery, slot canyons, or learn that color isn’t always important for a photo to scream a 1000 words.   THANK YOU.

Enough babbling for now.  BUT if you would like to hear more, keep checking back. You may be a bit amused at some of the storys I have chosen to share through my CHP blog.

Until then,

Chill